Attachment for stringed instruments



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. PIBTSOH. ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. No. 523,373. Patented Jgly 24, 1894.

@5576 $14 d fiZw-Z 4??!3070 I v. p I I r (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. PIETSGH. ATTACHMENT P03 STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. No. 523,373. Patented July 24, 1894.

ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT PIETSCH, OF LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,373, dated July 24, 1894.

Application filed April 12, 1894. Serial No, 507.227. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERr PIETsoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented.

a certain new and useful Improvementin Attachments for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan-view of my improved attachment, inverted. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, the attachment being inverted. Fig. 3 is an end View showing the positions of the operating buttons. Fig. 4 is a schematic view, illustrating the operation of the parts when one of the buttons is operated. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the neck of a stringed instrument, looking toward the body'portion, showing my improved attachment applied thereto, and means for the securing the same to the neck of the instrument, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the toothed rack for holding the retaining clamp in an opera tive position.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in attachments for stringed instruinents, and consists, generally stated, in mounting within a suitable casing, from which project push-buttons, rock-shaftswhich are provided with rockarms, with which arms co-operate slide plates, said slideplates being operated by the push-buttons; and in providing suitable mechanism between the rock shafts, and banks of keys, which are located in different frets, whereby, upon the operation of any one of the push-buttons, one or more rock-shafts will be actuated tooperate one or more strings in one or more frets.

Other minor features of invention reside in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as Will hereinafter be more fully described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, referring to Fig. 5, A indi cates the casing, which is preferably open at its bottom, for the passage of suitable tablets or keys B, which are arranged in banks and are so located, relative to the frets on the neck of the instrument, that, when the same are operated, they are depressed to co-operate with a string therebeneath and tone the same to that fret, in front of which said tablets or keys may be located. Projecting downwardly, from the casing, is a suitable lug O, which 1s adapted to rest against the neck D of themstrument, while located on the opposite side of said neck and adapted to contact therewith is a clamping device E, which is pivoted on the casing, its upper member being adapted to engage a segmental rack F, by which the tension of the lower member against the neck D may be regulated.

G indicates adjustable stops mounted upon the under side of the casing, which rests upon the face of the neck, and are adapted to regulate the position of the keys B relative to the strings.

Mounted in suitable guides, arranged on the side of the casing nearest the head of the instrument, is a capo tasto H, which is adapted to be forced down byaslot and pin connection with an operating handle I mounted upon the casing, to make difterentkeys. Suitable stop 4. is arranged in the path of the operating handle, through the medium of which said handle is prevented from returning or becoming loosened after the capo tasto is in operative position with the strings.

Within the casing A, is arranged, preferably. a metallic casing or lining J, upon which the several parts of my device are mounted. Projecting through this casing J, and easing A, are buttons K, to the inner ends of which are connected links L for operating levers ll. Attached to the upper ends of these levers M, are slide-plates N, whose free ends are slotted, as at 0, said slotted ends resting upon a suitable skeleton support P. Mounted within the casing J, beneath the slotted ends of the slide-plates N, are rock-shafts Q, from the upper sides of which project fingers R, which pass through the skeleton supports P and the links T, and said links '1 operate the keys or tablets B through the medium of a doublecrank U, mounted in suitable bearing a, on the casing J, the opposite end of said crank havinga slotted connection with the keys B.

I provide the rock-arms S with suitable springs V, to return the parts to their normal positions after actuation.

Referring to Fig. 4, I have illustrated the position of the parts upon the actuation of one of the buttons K, which I will refer to as but ton K", to indicate its position. Upon the actuation of this button K", the slotted slideplate N will be moved so as to operate fingers R and rock-shafts Q permitting the remaining fingers and rock-shafts to remain undisturbed. By the formation of the slots in advance of the other fingers R, upon the actuation of such other lingers R on the same rock-shaft, the other slide-plates N will remain undisturbed. IVhen the parts above referred to are moved as shown in Fig. 4, the rock-arms S will, through their link connec tion with the cranks U operate the keys B, as shown. This will cause the keys to contact with the strings of the instrumentin the following manner: The fifth string will be depressed in the first fret, and the fourth and second strings in the third fret. Upon the actuation of other buttons K, different chords may be obtained in like manner.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combina tion of the several parts of my device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an attachment for stringed instruments, the combination with a suitable casing, having a projection G thereon, a yielding clamping device E, adjusting screws G, and a capo tasto comprising the parts H and I, substantially as described.

2. In an attachment for stringed instruments, the combination with a suitable casing, push-buttons mounted therein, and projecting beyond the same, levers which are adapted to be actuated by said push-button, slide-plates connected to said levers, fingers which have slotted connection with said slideplates, rock-shafts upon which said fingers are mounted, rock-arms projecting from the opposite side of said shafts, springs attached to said rock-arms, double-cranks mounted upon the casing which have alink-connection with said rock-arm, and keys which are operated upon the movement of said crank, substantially as described.

In an attachment for stringed instruments, the combination with a suitable cas ing, of push-buttons mounted therein and projecting beyond the same, slotted slide plates which are actuated from the push-buttons, rock shafts which have fingers projecting through the slotsin the slide-plates, and keys which are operated from the rock shafts to co-operate with the strings of an instrument, substantially as described.

t. In an attachment for stringed instruments, the combination with banks of keys which are located over the strings in different frets, double cranks for actuating the keys, roekarms, a link connection between the rock arms and double cranks, push buttons, and means for actuating one or more keys in one or more banks upon the opera tion of an individual push button.

5. In an attachment for stringed instruments, the combination with a suitable casing, of banks of keys which are located over different strings in different frets, push-buttons mounted within and projecting from the casing, rock shafts which have connections with the several keys to operate them individually, and suitable mechanism located between the push buttons and rock shafts, whereby upon the operation of any one of the push-buttons, one or more rock shafts will be actuated to operate one or more keys, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this tth day of April, 189 l-.

ALBERT PIETSCII,

Witnesses:

F. It. CORNWALL, Hue-H K. WAGNER. 

